Richards Pads Streak Hard Way

Richards football coach Gary Korhonen is the first to admit it: Any similarity between the 1990 Bulldogs and his previous two Class 4A state champions is purely coincidence.

The Bulldogs (3-0), ranked No. 3 in The Tribune poll, scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome Sandburg 18-7 in an SICA North opener Friday night in Oak Lawn. The victory extended the state`s longest current winning streak to 31 games. But, as Korhonen said afterwards, this is no rerun of 1988 and `89. ``People around our place are spoiled. We`re not going to win 40-0 every week like before.``

Richards won by an average of 33 points in `88 and 30 in `89. In their first three games this year, the Bulldodgs have won by an average of 12 points. Still, a win is a win is a win.

Richards outgained Sandburg 317 yards to 141 and had 15 first downs to Sandburg`s 6. But the Bulldogs had four drives stopped inside the 10-yard line despite starting their first nine drives in Eagles territory.

Was the streak affecting the players? ``No,`` said Ellis, ``just mental breakdowns.``

``Small mental lapses,`` echoed linebacker Chris Koeppen, who led the defense with a fumble recovery and last-minute interception. ``We just try to forget about that and play football.``

It was the 24th time in the 31-game streak that Richards held its opponent to a TD or less.

Sandburg (2-1) held a 7-6 halftime as Richards failed on all but one of six drives that began in Eagle territory.

After a 41-yard return of the opening kickoff by Daryl Butler, Richards lost a fumble at the 33. A 42-yard punt return to the Sandburg 30 by Marvin O`Neal went for naught a few minutes later when Richards turned the ball over on downs in four plays.

The frustration continued for the Bulldogs in the second quarter. They got to the Sandburg 1, where Jackson was stuffed on fourth-and-goal. A punt into the wind enabled Richards to start its next drive at the Sandburg 37, and this time the Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead on Ellis` 11-yard spurt. Jackson was stopped on the 2-point conversion try.

A major gamble by coach Tom Seliga then paid off for Sandburg. Facing fourth and 1 foot on their own 30, the Eagles went for it and got the first first down on Ken Zahara`s 4-yard run. One play later, Brian Goehl found Dino DeCicco wide open at midfield, and DeCicco sprinted past O`Neal to the 3. Zahara rammed it in to tie the game, and Brian Tencza`s PAT gave Sandburg the 7-6 lead.

A 46-yard return by Butler gave Richards another great chance, but after the Bulldogs reached the 1, the drive ended on an incompletion with 8 seconds left in the half.